R.I.P. Kris Kristofferson, 1936-2024

Sadly, singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson has passed away at the age of 88. He'll be greatly missed. 

Ray Benson shares stories about Waylon, Willie, Billy Joe, Hag & weird Austin

Asleep At The Wheel's Ray Benson gives Otis Gibbs the lowdown on the whole shootin' match in two entertaining sessions. 

That time The Fleshtones appeared on MTV's The Cutting Edge in 1983

The Fleshtones introduced themselves to MTV viewers on The Cutting Edge back in 1983. See 'em at The Baby G tonight at 6 pm.  

You can pre-order a copy of The Fleshtones new album "It's Getting Late" right here. Grab tickets for their T.O. show here.

Remembering saxophonist Rolf Kühn on his birthday

Thinking of Rolf Kühn on his birthday with his "Bloody Rockers" and "Monday Morning" albums cut with brother Joachim Kühn.

It's a Continental Drifters trifecta – biography, 'Best Of' & tribute album!

Watch an interview with Sean Kelly who penned the Continental Drifters book "White Noise & Lightning" out now.  

White Noise & Lightning: The Best Of The Continental Drifters

Omnivore's new Continental Drifters release White Noise & Lightning is a 15-track CD/11-track LP collection of material spanning their career produced with full cooperation from the band.

“There have been plenty of unquestionably great bands throughout history, but a relatively small number of those bands have a real distinctiveness to their sound and makeup. Once you get to know the Continental Drifters, it becomes apparent that they possess that rare singularity.” — Sean Kelly from his liner notes

 

Continental Drifters are a congregation of like-minded, creative musical souls, whose other bands just happened to include The Bangles, The Dream Syndicate, The dB’s, The Cowsills, and more. From their 1992 debut single “The Mississippi” through 1994’s eponymous debut, 1998’s Vermillion, 2001’s Better Day, and Nineteen Ninety-Three (recorded in 1992 but released a decade later), the Drifters’ lineup may have been fluid, but their sound has always been instantly identifiable, comforting, and fantastic.

White Noise & Lightning: The Best Of Continental Drifters paints the story of the band. The 11-track LP and 15-track CD (featuring a previously unissued scorching 12-minute live version of “Who We Are, Where We Live”) follows the journey across their entire career. It will be released in conjunction with the publication of Sean Kelly’s White Noise & Lightning: The Continental Drifters Story (coming September 27 from Cool Dog Sound) which chronicles the 10-year journey of the Continental Drifters and follows the band through years of cross-country moves, lineup changes, industry highs and lows, marriages, divorces, and dozens of classic songs.

Just as Kelly’s authorized biography of the band tells the story of a critically acclaimed, commercially overlooked band that became so much more, White Noise & Lightning is not only a great place to start for the uninitiated, but is the perfect soundtrack for this legendary proto-Americana band. 

Get a copy of White Noise & Lightning: The Best of the Continental Drifters directly from Omnivore Recordings right here. Check out the CD tracklisting (with four more songs than the vinyl version) below followed by an interview with biographer Sean Kelly and a few Continental Drifters performance clips. There's also a link to a Continental Drifters chat about the new releases on Facebook moderated by Brett Milano on Sunday (September 29) at 6 pm Eastern. 

WHITE NOISE & LIGHTNING: The Best of Continental Drifters CD:

THE RAIN SONG

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS TRANSCONTINENTAL HIGHWAY

DALLAS

MEZZANINE

INVISIBLE BOYFRIEND

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

THE MISSISSIPPI

GET OVER IT

MIXED MESSAGES

DON’T DO WHAT I DID

TOMORROW’S GONNA BE

NA NA

PEACEFUL WAKING

DRIFTERS

WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE LIVE (Live at the Court Tavern)

The Drifters and author Sean Kelly discuss the new book White Noise & Lightning right here. 

LINKS

Coachella Valley Weekly Continental Drifters

Offbeat Various Artists: We Are All Drifters

U.I.C. celebrates 40 years with Gerard Van Herk & Bloodshot Bill @ The Horseshoe, Saturday

Join U.I.C. in a toast to 40 years and remembering Deja Voodoo's Tony Dewald with a performance by Gerard Van Herk & Bloodshot Bill. 

Get tickets for U.I.C.'s 40th Anniversary celebration right here. 

Remembering saxophone great John Gilmore on his birthday

Thinking of Sun Ra's longtime sideman John Gilmore with a 1980 interview and a couple of performances worth checking. 

That time the dancin' cowboy Bev Camp shot a Po Lazarus video

Watch St. Marys' own Bev Camp (thedancingcowboy) in the Po Lazarus clip for "DreamLand" & Jenn Marino's "Got Me Movin'"

Happy Birthday Lori Yates!

Here's Lori with pals Chet Atkins and Tammy Wynette. Check out "Matador" and see her at the Cameron House October 3. 

One For The Weekend: Nicola Conte feat. Gregory Porter

Nicola Conte's "Love & Revolution" album is getting a long overdue vinyl release. Check out "Ghana" with Gregory Porter. 

Here's the scoop...

“Do You Feel Like I Feel” and “Ghana” are two tracks which originally appeared on Nicola Conte's “Love & Revolution” album released on Impulse! back in 2011. While producing that record, Nicola Conte was joined by an impressive cadre of guests, both Italian and international, a rich collective invited by the artist to enter the studio of his long-time friend Tommy Cavalieri and participate in the creation of a diverse and modern jazz album. However, “Love & Revolution” has never been released on vinyl – until now. Soon a brand new 2-LP version will see the light of day on Schema Records, preceded by 45rpm single featuring two of the most significant tracks and the main ingredients of the entire work: the soul of “Do You Feel Like I Feel” and the Latin-jazz of “Ghana”. 

Both tracks are further embellished by Magnus Lindgren’s arrangements and, in particular, by the voice of Gregory Porter, here still at the beginning of his career, recognized by Nicola Conte as a rising star of the contemporary vocal jazz scene. Get a copy of Nicola Conte's new single with Gregory Porter right here here. Have a listen to "Ghana" below along with Nicola and crew's stellar live performance of the Bubba Thomas classic "All Praises To Allah" originally by the Lightmen Plus One.  

Lady Gaga discusses "Happy Mistake" from her Harlequin album

At a recent playback session for her new Harlequin album, Lady Gaga talked about "Happy Mistake" which you can hear below.

Imaad Wasif plays the Danforth Music Hall, Friday

If you're going to the Danforth Music Hall on Friday, check out Imaad Wasif backed by Grimble Grumble's Mike Bulington. 

Watch Roxy Music perform Re-Make/Re-Model

What better way to celebrate Bryan Ferry's 79th brithday today than with his Roxy Music classic "Re-Make/Re-Model"

Happy Birthday Gary Bartz!

Celebrating the 84th birthday of saxophone great Gary Bartz with his recent Tiny Desk Concert, an interview and much more. 

Hamilton singer/songwriter Stefan Gnyś' Horizoning album resurfaces

Stefan Gnyś pressed up only 12 acetate copies of his Horizoning album in 1969 which will finally be getting wider circulation on Nov 15. 

Here's the scoop from We Are Busy Bodies' Eric Warner...

This release project is anything but linear. 

After quitting my job at MySpace and backpacking around Europe, I began a post-graduate degree at Humber College where I met Stefan Gnys daughter. You’d potentially think this is where the story automatically turns into where the album comes together, but for that add another 14 or so years. I learned about Stefan’s music through music editor and all around knowledgeable person Tim Perlich several years ago. Originally destined for reissue on another label, this incredibly rare album recorded in 1969 is set for re-release on November 15. I’m not sure if I can officially call this a reissue because it was never released in the first place. 

Stefan Gnyś – Horizoning (LP/Digital - out November 15)

Stefan Gnyś (pronounced G’neesh) recorded what would have been his first album Horizoning, at Heidebrecht Recording Services in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada on April 21st 1969. Ten tracks were cut in a day-long session that Stefan had perfected over the previous 12 months, with the songs Horizoning and English Oaks having been inspired by a trip to the UK and Europe during the eventful summer of 1968. Twelve acetate copies were ordered, of which Stefan kept two, the rest given to family or sold at gigs. Subsequently, 300 copies of a self-financed vinyl 45 pairing Horizoning and Evangeline were pressed by RCA Custom Record Division and duly sent to radio and sold at concerts, which went down extremely well and led to more live dates. Needless to say the 45 soon sold out but this was as far as his recorded legacy went, as in 1970 Stefan went to university, then got married and started a family while he embarked on a life-long career as a teacher. Music however remained a constant in his life.

Remembers Stefan...

"On the recording of these 10 songs in 1969, there were only two players: myself and a good friend, David Van Duzen. I did the vocals and rhythm guitar, but with a personally developed picking style that was distinctive and apart from straight strumming. 

"By the time David was in his early 20s in 1969, he was already an accomplished musician—a guitarist extraordinaire! He played lead and was a vocalist in rock groups playing the popular hits of the time. When it came to his amazing solos, he could play his electric guitar behind his back, behind his head and even play the strings with his teeth! Dave was also a talented bass player who added a wonderful lower register to my songs. He also sang harmony in the chorus of ‘Evangeline’. 

"We recorded in a small, well-equipped studio called Heidebrecht Recording Service in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The recording engineer was also the owner. All ten songs were laid down in one day (April 21, 1969) with David adding his guitar licks and bass runs on separate tracks."

This release should really be regarded as a ‘found’ sound recording as it is only because Stefan retained two personal acetate copies that it exists at all. Those two copies were used as the audio sources for this release. The album comes with the largest format vinyl insert the label has ever produced painstakingly detailing every aspect of the album and its inspiration. 

You can pre-order the long overdue proper release of the Horizoning album by Stefan Gnyś via Bandcamp right here.  Listen to a few tracks below. 

Petunia & The Vipers, Horse Bath @ The Horseshoe, Wednesday

Vancouver's Petunia & The Vipers play songs from their new Callin' Me Back album with Halifax's Horse Bath opening at 9 pm. 

Petunia & The Vipers' Callin' Me Back Tour

Sept. 25 – Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON

Sept. 26 – St. Andrew's Church, Peterborough ON

Sept. 27 – Radio Bean, Burlington VT

Sept. 28 – house show, Brooklyn NY

Oct. 1 – American Legion Post 82, Nashville TN

Oct. 2 – The Double Crown, Asheville NC

Oct. 4 – Dixie Tavern, Marietta GA

Oct. 5 – Eda’s Hide-a-Way, Weaverville NC

Oct. 6 – Thirsty Beaver Saloon, Charlotte NC

Oct. 11 – BJ’s Lounge, New Orleans LA

Oct. 12-13 – TBA, Lafayette LA

Oct. 14 – The Roch Tavern, New Orleans LA

Oct. 16 – The Volcano, Houston TX

Oct. 17-18 – The White Horse Saloon, Austin TX

Oct. 20 – Performing Arts Centre, San Angelo TX

Oct. 25 – Little Toad Creek Brewery, Silver City NM

Oct. 26 – Founding Fathers, Prescott AZ

Oct. 27 – Jacumba Hot Springs, Jacumba Hot Springs CA

Oct. 31 – Founding Fathers, Prescott AZ

Nov. 1 – Bisbee Grand Hotel, Bisbee AZ

Nov. 2 – The Dirty Drummer, Phoenix AZ

Nov. 3 – All Souls Festival, Tucson AZ

Nov. 7 – The Pourhouse, Oceanside CA

Nov. 8 – Straight Outta Compton Farm, Compton CA

Nov. 9 – PCH Club, Long Beach CA

Nov. 12 – The Pearl, Locke CA

Nov. 13 – Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz CA

Nov. 14 – Sacyard, Sacramento CA

Nov. 15 – The Talent Club, Talent OR

Nov. 16 – Sam Bond’s, Eugene OR

Nov. 22 – Shanty Tavern, Seattle WA

Nov. 23 – Dante’s, Portland OR

Nov. 29 – The Queen’s, Nanaimo BC

Nov. 30 – ANAF, Ucluelet BC

Dec. 13 – The Waverly Hotel, Cumberland BC

Dec. 14 – Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109, Gibsons BC

The Hulagoons twang up a storm @ The Bell & Beacon, Wednesday

Burke Carroll (left) and Nichol Robertson (far right) demonstrate their impressive string bending technique starting at 8 pm. 

Neko Case's memoir The Harder I Fight The More I Love You due in January

Neko's much-anticipated new memoir is out January 28th. She's playing Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on Friday (September 27). Get tickets below. 

Here's the scoop from Hachette Books...

Singer-songwriter Neko Case paints a vivid portrait of an extraordinary life—one forged through a poverty-stricken childhood in “slummy, one-horse towns”; obsessive desire; bursts of comedy; and indispensable friendships, reflecting on the way art, music, and a deep connection to nature helped her on a singular journey to become a beloved, Grammy-nominated artist.

Neko Case has long been revered as one of music’s most influential artists, whose authenticity, lyrical storytelling, and sly wit have endeared her to a legion of critics, musicians, and lifelong fans. In The Harder I Fight The More I Love You, Case brings her trademark candor and precision to a memoir that traces her evolution from an invisible girl “raised by two dogs and a space heater” in rural Washington state to her improbable emergence as an internationally-acclaimed talent.

In luminous, sharp-edged prose, Case shows readers what it’s like to be left alone for hours and hours as a child, to take refuge in the woods around her home, and to channel the monotony and loneliness and joy that comes from music, camaraderie, and shared experience into art.

The Harder I Fight The More I Love You is a rebellious meditation on identity and corruption, and a manifesto on how to make space for ourselves in this world, despite the obstacles we face.

Neko Case's new memoir The Harder I Fight The More I Love You is out January 28, 2025 but you can pre-order it from your bookseller of choice right here: https://linktr.ee/nekobook. Visit Neko's Substack site over here where she'll be publishing some excerpts in the coming months for paid subscribers. Get tickets while you still can for Neko's upcoming Toronto show at the Danforth Music Hall on Friday (September 27) with Imaad Wasif opening at 7 pm right here. 

Watch a largely overlooked Glen Winter video for Neko's "Furnace Room Lullaby – co-written by The Sadies' Travis Good who sings harmony vocals – from the soundtrack for Sam Raimi's The Gift circa 2000 followed by a few gushy book endorsements below. Read a recent Neko interview with Chris Farnsworth for Vermont's Seven Days right here. 

What authors are saying:

"The gift of Neko Case as a memoirist mirrors the gift of Neko Case as a songwriter: there is a warmth of clarity, of language selection, of narrative flourish. This book reads, and feels, as if you are on a porch with an old friend, telling you stories you've heard a hundred times, but cannot wait to hear once more." – Hanif Abdurraqib author of the National Book Award finalist A Little Devil in America

“Reader, I really want to hand this book to you personally and tell you, in one excited rush, how much it moved me. The Harder I Fight The More I Love You is a hell of an origin story: heartbreaking and funny, brave and weird, hard to swallow and impossible to put down. Neko Case has been my favorite singer-songwriter for many years, hands down, and now she’s written one of my favorite memoirs.” – Maggie Smith New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful

"This is a fierce, funny, moving memoir that will break your heart and patch it back up. Case's writing is as piercing and beautiful as her gorgeous singing, and will carry you away completely.” – Susan Orlean New York Times Bestselling Author

"A vivid, exuberant, heartrending coming-of-age story that demonstrates the saving power of art. This book captured me the way Case's songs do: with their ache and beauty and promise that the only way through this life is to feel it all.” – Melissa Febos Author of Girlhood, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism

"I burned through this book in three feverish days, overcome by the spellcasting, storytelling, and pure song of Neko Case’s words. Here is one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet, on the page or otherwise: So honest, kind, funny, and tender—so human—you will fall in love if you haven’t already. A book not so much about the creation of an icon as it is about the lionhearted love Neko Case has for the whole damn world." – Rachel Yoder Author of Nightbitch

"This book, like everything Neko Case touches, is a work of art — full of moments that kaleidoscope your view of the world into something new. Heartbreaking and honest and raw, The Harder I Fight, the More I Love You is a testament to the fact that this artist, like her music, was born from the fire." – Rebecca Makkai Author of I Have Some Questions for You

Watch The Mavericks jam in the van

Watch Raul Malo and his Mavericks crew play a few tunes off their latest album Moon & Stars in a van. Get the album here.

R.I.P. saxophonist Benny Golson, 1929-2024

Sadly, saxophonist/composer Benny Golson – who penned "I Remember Clifford" – has passed away. He'll be greatly missed.

Remembering Blind Lemon Jefferson on his birthday

Raising a glass to Blind Lemon Jefferson with "Black Snake Moan No. 2" along with a vintage Paramount ad.  

Watch the Muddy Waters doc "Can't Be Satisfied"

Check out the Muddy Waters documentary Can't Be Satisfied directed by Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville from 2003. 

PJ Harvey plays two nights @ History, September 25 & 26

PJ Harvey performs songs from I Inside The Year Old Dying and more at History. Watch a Porto show from back in June below.   

Get tickets for PJ Harvey's shows at History on Wednesday (Sept 25) and Thursday (Sept 26) right here. 

Further reading

Michael Ventura Hear That Long Snake Moan

R.I.P. Toronto-based reggae/soul keyboardist Lloyd Delpratt

Sadly,  keyboardist Lloyd Delpratt – who played with Wayne McGhie's Sounds Of Joy – has passed away. He'll be greatly missed. 

It was 45 years ago today that the New Music debuted on CityTV

The New Music, with hosts Jeannie Beker and JD Roberts, premiered on CityTV Sept 23, 1979. Enjoy some vintage clips. 

Remembering John Coltrane on his birthday

Raising a glass to John Coltrane with a few stellar performances alongside Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy and with his classic quintet.

Joe Boyd chats about his new book, Little Richard and more

Producer Joe Boyd's new book And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain traces the origins of popular music which he discusses below.

Here's the scoop...

Legendary producer and record label boss Joe Boyd has spent a lifetime travelling the globe and immersing himself in music. He has witnessed first-hand the growing popularity of music from Africa, India, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe since the 1960s and was one of the protagonists of the 'world music' movement of the 1980s. 

In this sweeping history, Boyd sets out to explore the fascinating backstories to these sounds and documents a decade of encounters with the most extraordinary musicians and producers who have altered the course of music for us all. 

And the Roots of Rhythm Remain shows how personalities, events and politics in places such as Havana, Lagos, Budapest, Kingston and Rio are as colourful and momentous as anything that took place in New Orleans, Harlem, Laurel Canyon or Liverpool. And, moreover, how jazz, rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll would never have happened if it weren't for the notes and rhythms emanating from over the horizon. 

"I doubt I'll ever read a better account of the history and sociology of popular music than this one." – Brian Eno

"Profound and beyond." – Robert Plant

"'One only hopes that this will be taught in schools." – Ry Cooder

Joe Boyd's "And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain" will be on shelves in Canada on October 4th. You can pre-order it via Amazon right here but try to get it from your local bookseller instead. 

 

Remembering Marlena Shaw on her birthday

Remembering Marlena Shaw with "Woman Of The Ghetto" and her 1975 appearance on Sammy and Company... follow the link. 

Tia Brazda Trio swings into the Rex Hotel, Sunday

Tia Brazda plays a matinee with her trio at the Rex Hotel from 2 pm to 4:30 pm today. A few tickets remain at the door. 

Matt Berry discusses some of his fave British records and more

Matt Berry – aka Laszlo Cravensworth on What We Do In The Shadows – talks about his favourite UK LPs, hits Amoeba and chats with Tom Scharpling.   

Lord Diabolik, Jukeez, The Wasagas, Andy Butler @ Dakota Tavern, Saturday

France's Lord Diabolik will be fully gassed for today's matinee with Montreal's Jukeez at the Dakota Tavern starting at 5 pm.

Happy Birthday Muscle Shoals bass boss David Hood!

Celebrating the birthday of Swamper bassist David Hood with a few interviews and a couple of his classic recordings. 

Mr. Pharmacist, Psychic Weapons rock the Linsmore Tavern, Sept 21

The Fall tribute Mr. Pharmacist – powered by Glenn Milchem on drums – reprise your fave Mark E. Smith gems at  the Linsmore Tavern on Saturday, Sept. 21!  

Here's the scoop...

Mr. Pharmacist, one of the all-time great bands who've played the Linsmore Tavern (1298 Danforth Ave) – returns for the first time in nearly five years! On Saturday September 21st, Mr. Pharmacist will be playing their tribute to Mark E Smith and The Fall! Every time Mr. Pharmacist plays the Linsmore, it’s a sell-out with an electric atmosphere! In keeping with the evening's post-punk theme, opening the show will be Psychic Weapons, who are an incredible original band with a totally wired attack. The show starts at 9:30pm, Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door! Get 'em right here. 

Mr. Pharmacist – featuring Todd Schertzer, Mike Letourneau, Joe Steeves, Glenn Milchem, and Robert Howard – always put on one helluva a show to a capacity crowd every time they play the Linsmore Tavern. The Fall are an English post-punk band, formed in 1976 in Prestwich, Greater Manchester. With an ever-changing line up, the Fall essentially consists of founder and only constant member, Mark E. Smith, who has quipped, “If it’s me and your granny on bongos, then it’s The Fall!! The Fall have a huge Cult following, as does Mr. Pharmacist themselves, which is evident every time Mr. Pharmacist plays the Linsmore Tavern and it’s at capacity!

Psychic Weapons: Angular, sharp, melodic, anti-melodic, wordy, stabby. “Veteran savvy & discipline / wired-up tension / perpetual-nervous tics / post punk signifiers.” (Joe Strutt – Mechanical Forest Sound) Lineage: Parts Unknown, Creeping Nobodies, Mean Red Spiders, 122 Greige, The Mean, Procon, All Under Heaven Album forthcoming in 2025: Press Play To Erase. 

Watch Mr. Pharmacist live at the Monarch Tavern back in December, 2022 followed by a clip from Psychic Weapons recent show at the Horseshoe Tavern. 

Dollar Bin Delights: Jimmy Herald's "Ride On" LP

Another mysterious marvel from Jack Millman's Condor operation is a country singer (or singers) credited as "Jimmy Herald"